Cover for pickles, etc.



Aug. 11, 1931. P. K-BASMADJIAN COVER FOR PICKLES, ETC

Filed Sept. 4, 1928 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL K. BASMADJIAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA; ARONSEAG BASMADJ' IAN :1 EXECUTRIX OF SAID PAUL K. BASMADJ IAN, DECEASED COVER FOR IE'ICKLES, ETC.

Application filed September 4, 1928. Serial No. 303,842.

My invention relates to covers for containers holding relishes and other perishable food products.

The main purpose of my invention is to protect, to a maximum between servings from their containers, the surfaces of perishable food products sold from bulk.

A further purpose is to provide a follower preferably in the form of a float filling substantially the entire cross-sectlon of the container and resting upon the surface of the food.

A further purpose is to cover the food by an excess of liquor and to float a protective cover upon the liquor.

A further purpose is to provide convenient means for removingsurface water from a container.

A further purpose is to support a floatable cover for foods covered by liquid 1n suitable position for drainage within the container. 7 V

Further purposes will appear in the specification and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate one general form of my invention only showing two shapes and two materials, thereof and selecting a form which has proved to be practical, eflicient, simple and inexpensive and which at the same time well illustrates the principles of my invention.

Many articles sold in bulk by grocers and keepers of delicatessen stores are subject to injury through the formation of mould long before the quantity ordinarily exposed for sale has been sold. Pickles form so excellent an exampleof thiswithin the knowledge of all such store keepers that I will use them as an illustration, intending them to be typical of the entire group ofrelishes and perishable foods to whose protection my invention is directed.

, Figures 1 and 4 are top plan views of 45 variantforms V Figure 2-is a section .of Figure 1 upon line 2-2, showing parts in elevation.

Figure 3 is a section of a float differing from that in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section of Figure 4 taken" upon line 5-5.

Figures 6 and 7 correspond to Figure 5 but show the float in different positions. i

In the best practice with which I am familiar pickles are ordinarily kept in a straight sided jar of the general character shown in Figures 1 and 2, are covered by brine and are protected'by a top coversuch as that shown in outline in Figure 2.

The increasing air space which becomes sm quite large before the jaris empty facilitates the growth of mould uponthe surface of the pickles exposed or, where they: are covered by brine, upon the surface of the brine. Such products as chowchow usually have no covering of liquor. They are also subject to injury by formation of mould.

The formationof the mould gives a general appearance of uncleanliness and causes the food when'withdrawn from the jar to appear to be in bad condition. This. injury to the food is not confined to appearance alone, as the same causes which result in the accumulation of mould result also in discoloration and decay of some of the food, with the result that quite generally parts of such bulk foods are sent backrto the wholesale grocer for replacement as unsalable. f

I have discovered that the same type of straight sided jar now in use may be used without or with the same jar-top cover shown in Figure 2 to secure very complete protection of the bulk food products if the immediate surface ofthe food products be protected by a follower or cover resting upon the surface of the food or upon the surface of the liquor covering of the food. This protection is very much more complete and eflective in the case of foods covered by liquor if the follower be made in the L.

' using a long handle.

form of a float which does not become submerged in the liquor and which, therefore, when in position protects substantially the entire surface of the content.

One form is shown in Figures 1 and 2 where the jar 5 is cylindrical and of substantially uniform diameter and where the pickle content 6 is covered by a layer of brine 7 which supports a follower, preferably a float 8 covering substantially the entire brine surface. The extent to which the float covers the surface is, nearly, the measure of its usefulness. This extent of course depends in part upon the uniformity of the diameter of the jar interior.

My invention relates to the process involved as well as to apparatus by which the process may be carried out.

The follower 9 is preferably made of glass for much the same reasons as dictated the use of glass ordinarily in the manufacture of jars 5, namely because it is transparent and because it can be cleaned quickly, easily and effectively. The float is hollow at 10 and when made of glass is provided with a preferably integral handle 11.

In this form, in order that the liquor from the bath may not remain upon the upper surface of the follower if splashed upon it, I convex the upper surface of the follower at 12. I also convex the lower surface at 13 so as to provide quick drainage of liquor from the lower surface as the follower is lifted from the surface to expose the content for serving.

In Figure 3 the float 10 is solid.

To make evident that the circular crosssection of the container is in no wise vital to the success of my invention and that the convex float surface may be omitted while still securing a part of the advantage of my invention, I illustrate in Figure 4 a rectangular container 5' with a follower 9 also of rectangular cross-section, adapted to fill substantially the entire interior of the con- 7 tainer. The handle here shown at 10 may be integral or not. 1

In this form the flat sides enable me to hang the follower on the sides by the handle as in Figure 6, without leaving the follower extend far out into the jar and without The handle can be hooked over the side to support the float close against the side. See Figure 6.

The top is cupped at 13 so that the float may be pushed down in a liquid to cause the liquid to flow over the upper edge into the cup for quick and easy removal of excess liquid. While flattening of the follower bottom at 14 is not essential for this pun pose it is of advantage as the bottom then interferes less with the normal level settling position of the solid content.

. The cupped top preferably has a wall slope at 15 such that any liquid remaining in the follower cup will drain when the follower is hung upon the side. Though with but little advantage from hanging the follower from the side in the earlier numbered views, the-cupping of the top could be used to advantage in the forms shown in these views if its special advantages be desired.

In Figures 57 I show two additional features.

The use of glass is by no means essential to obtain results from my invention.

Solid covers may be followers merely for quasi solid materialsof the chow-chow orderor may be of wood or cork in order that they may float. Whatever the material, if the surface of the follower be in- V jurious t0 the content or be apt unduly to soak up the content, it is desirable to cover the surface with a suitable paint or enamel to protect against this.

-- Obviously the protective feature of my invention Would be carried out whether the follower rest upon a quasi solidcontent or float upon a covering liquor. It is also evident that a follower of the float variety would serve the follower function with .a quasi solid content and would perform the additional floating function where a liquor covering has been provided.

VVi-th whatever shape of tion be used there is an advantage in providing the usual top cover 16 for the jar in addition to .the follower, as the inner surface of the jar and the upper surface of the follower will thus be. protected against dust and dirt and against the intrusion of flies.

Then a floating follower is used Which substantially fills the cross-section of the jar interior and has sufficient side thickness so that the; upper edge is not closely approached by the liquor. of thecontent, there is no opportunity for flies to feed from the liquor content and I find the protection from flies to be very complete and eflective.

I intend the language parallel-sided to refer to the circular form of jar as well as to one of polygonal section and to indicate. that the elements cut by vertical planes through the center'aresubstantially parallel.

In view of my'invention and disclosure variations andmodifications to meet individual whim or particular need willdoubtless become evident to others skilled in the art. to obtain part or all. of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such in so far as they fall within the reasonable spiritand scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. A parallel-sided jar'gfor the reception of food in bulk and a follower adapted to fill substantially the entire cross-section ofia.

jar the .inven the jar, having a cupped top for filling with liquid from the jar by over-flowing and removal of the liquid and a handle for the top extending from the bottom of the cup above the cup level in order that the cup may be lifted without engagement of the hand with the cup contents.

2. A parallel-sided jar of rectangular transverse section, a rectangular follower substantially filling the cross section of the jar and having a cupped top and a handle for the follower extending outwardly from the cupped top and adapted to hang the follower upon the side of the jar and drain the cup from the follower.

PAUL K. BASMADJIAN.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,818,924. Granted August 11, 1931, to

PAUL K. BASMADJIAN.

It is hereby certified that the name of the execntrix in the above numbered patent was erroneously written and printed as "Aronseag Basmadjian", whereas said name should have been written and printed as "Arouseag Basmadjian", as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

